Evidence of meeting #13 for Official Languages in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was pandemic.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Jean Johnson  President, Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada
Alain Dupuis  Director General, Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada

5:25 p.m.

President, Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada

Jean Johnson

We feel we must ensure that the decision is not left entirely up to Montreal. At the moment, people try to represent these communities by working in the neighbourhood, and everything falls under Montreal's jurisdiction. To truly strengthen the place of French and our communities, we need to make them known, and the only way to do this is to create an office outside of Quebec to get the necessary content, one that reflects the reality of our brothers and sisters in Acadia, the three northern territories and the provinces west of Ontario.

There would then be a lot of cultural wealth to draw on. We're asking the people of CBC/Radio Canada to use what they have and set up a centre that would be responsible for occupying at least 15% of the CBC's major national news programs.

5:25 p.m.

NDP

Alexandre Boulerice NDP Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC

It's an excellent idea, which I strongly support, and as a Montrealer, for that matter.

You have painted a rather problematic picture. Let me get back to direct services to the population. As you said, the organizations you represent are going through difficult times, given the loss of volunteers and funding. They are also at risk of closure.

If the federal government's assistance plans do not include targeted measures for francophone communities, do you not fear a lasting decline in services to francophones outside Quebec? Don't we run the risk of not playing our role properly in this matter if we don't act quickly?

5:25 p.m.

President, Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada

Jean Johnson

My concern is that the most vulnerable are the ones who are closest to the population and who are losing their volunteers, employees and all sorts of things, not to mention their clientele, because people are rushed into new realities to which they are trying to adapt.

People are vulnerable. People on the ground are the most fragile at the moment. We have to find a way to support them. So we're going to need the help of committee members from all parties, as well as the federal government, to present and support a plan that will ensure the sustainability of our community groups.

5:25 p.m.

NDP

Alexandre Boulerice NDP Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC

Thank you.

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg

Thank you very much, Mr. Boulerice, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Dupuis.

That is all the time we have. I want to thank you for being here and also for your contribution to the committee's current study.

Before adjourning, I would also like to inform members that next week's witnesses for the interpreter study have confirmed their attendance. So there will be representatives from the House and also from the International Association of Conference Interpreters. We are working on the second session.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the clerk of the committee, the procedural clerk, the analysts and all the people on the technical team who worked very hard to make this meeting possible.

I thank you all and wish you a good evening.

That said, the meeting is adjourned.